Bird Watching in Arunachal Pradesh

The eastern corner of India - Arunachal Pradesh has a lot many reasons that make it a part of every traveler's bucket list. It's the land of the rising sun for the entire subcontinent and has interlocked snow capped mountains, fascinating tribal culture, a wealth of fairs and festivals. But it's the wealth of birds that are spotted here makes it one-of-its-kind. Arunachal Pradesh has an exceptional richness in avian diversity. A few of the protected areas that are worth a special mentioned when it comes to bird watching are Zemithang, Sangti Valley, Baily Trails, Tawang area, Nameri, Dirang, Sela pass, Shangti Valley, Mandala, Eagle nest, and Bhalukpong. Overall, there are 25 notified important Bird Areas in Arunachal Pradesh. Only in West Kameng and Tawang Districts, one can spot hundreds of avian species including many migratory and endangered ones.

Amongst all these, one of the most prominent birdwatching spots in Arunachal Pradesh is Mandala-Phudung forest region, which also happens to be an Important Bird Area (IBA). Mandala-Phudung is mainly known for its bird species like Gould's Shortwing, Brown Bush Warbler, Red Crossbill, Blanford's Rosefinch, Temminck's Tragopan, Kessler's Thrush, and White-bellied Redstart. Sela Pass at an altitude of 3,500 to 4,500 meters is also one of the great birding destination. Some of the key bird species that one can see in Sela Pass are Blood Pheasant, Snow Partridge, Himalayan Monal, Gould's Shortwing, Grandala, Tibetan Blackbird, White-browed Tit Babbler, three species of Grosbeaks, and species of Rosefinches. Eaglenest, which is rated as one of the best birding sites in the world, is also a good place to go for birding with over 650 bird species in & surrounding forest of the sanctuary.